AQW 23420/17-22

Mr Andrew Muir
Alliance Party
North Down

Tabled Date: 29/09/2021
Answered On Date: 07/10/2021
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs for an update on remediation efforts in relation to the illegal landfill at Mobouy.

Answer:

My priority remains to protect the water quality of the River Faughan and the NI Water abstraction in addition to protecting the environment by remediating this site. Throughout the period of the Covid-19 pandemic, my Department has continued to implement a comprehensive Environmental Monitoring Programme (EMP) at the site. This includes site and river bank inspections together with daily laboratory testing of water quality at the NI Water public water abstraction. No pollution incidents in the River Faughan have been reported by members of the public or identified through the monitoring carried out under the EMP.

In June 2021, my Department appointed an Integrated Consultancy Team (ICT), Tetra Tech Ltd. to further update and finalise the Optimum Remediation Strategy (ORS) and the Business Case (OBC2) in support of appointing the remediation contractor to carry out the site remediation. A new Ground Investigation contract is commencing on site this month to build on the work to date and provide additional information required to further inform the conceptual site model and the Optimum Remediation Strategy (ORS).

The size and complexity of the Mobuoy waste site means that its remediation will not be a quick fix and at this stage, a definitive timeline for the work cannot be provided. The ongoing criminal prosecution imposes severe limitations on project information being made public but current planning assumptions are that the Optimum Remediation Strategy (ORS) and the Business Case (OBC2) will be completed by December 2022. Based on successful approval of the business case, it is expected that the remediation contractor will be appointed by late 2023.

Work is continuing with the Strategic Investment Board and Derry City and Strabane District Council to progress Stakeholder Engagement plans and develop the vision for future use of the site so that it can become a community asset once it has been remediated.